Barnes in Common

the magazine of Churches Together in Barnes
May/June 2005

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Baptist Church   |   Holy Trinity   |   Methodist Church
St Mary's   |   St Michael's   |   St Osmund's

Baptist Church

It was a great joy to see so many friends, old and new, at our Easter Services. Easter Day was a special delight and hopefully a foretaste of the day when all services will be so well attended! After such a busy season it's important we now take the opportunity to catch our breath, 'take stock' and plan ahead for events such as Barnes Fair and our next Alpha Course. On 22 May our Church will be celebrating its 137th anniversary, which – strangely enough – is 77 more years than we celebrated last year!

Members of the fellowship will also be encouraged to pray and think through the implications of the forthcoming General Election and how we can play our part in influencing for the better the governance of this country. Increasingly we hear government and media crying out for the Church to speak out and give a moral lead – as long as it doesn't sing from too different a song sheet. But government and media alike fail to realise that kingdom values only have true relevance when the King Himself is first recognised and honoured. Kingdom living is always Christo-centric. Perhaps that's a point we can help clarify when the hustings, door knocking and vote questing begins!

Graham Pulham

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Holy Trinity

After an early Easter, the season of festivals continues with Pentecost Sunday on 15th May, and Ascension Day, when we hold the Barnes Team Concelebrated Eucharist at Holy Trinity at 7.30 p.m., with Professor Raymond Chapman as the preacher.

Eight young people from Holy Trinity have been preparing for Confirmation: Chloe Allen, David Allen, Amy-Rose Cutajar, Anna De Sancha, Alex Bowsher, Gemma Bowsher, James Bowsher and Tom Moore-Stanley, together with Kimberley Jackson from St.Michael's. Carole Allen will also be among the adults being confirmed on Monday May 16th at Holy Trinity Church, Richmond, at 7.30 p.m.

On Trinity Sunday, 22nd May we look forward to our Parish Lunch following the Eucharist, and at 6.30 p.m. the Churches Together in Barnes Evening Prayer.

This year we shall join the congregation of St. Michael's for their celebration of Corpus Christi on Thursday May 26th.

On Sunday 26th June, Holy Trinity is hosting this year's Barnes Team Children's Festival, details of which appear elsewhere in this magazine.

Sunday 3rd July will be my last one here, and the Parish Eucharist at 10 a.m. will be followed by a lunch; all those who would like to come are most welcome, and will be asked to sign up for catering purposes.

Godfrey Holdstock

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Methodist Church

While we are of course somewhat preoccupied with the Redevelopment of our building, life goes on and we realise the importance of keeping the regular things going.

One of the areas of our church life that we are taking more and more seriously is that of Christian Nurture. This covers many things, both regular and occasional. Among the occasional recently has been our annual Quiet Day, this year shared with Roehampton Methodists and Anglicans, on a post Easter theme. And looking forward we have around 30 people coming with us on our next Church Family Weekend in June.

Among our regular groups is one that we call 'What is Our Faith?'. We meet once a month at 8.00 p.m. at the Manse (14 Archway Street) to wrestle with the questions and issues that challenge and 'spark' us. The agenda is set by those who come, and over the past year we have covered all kinds of ground – the Trinity, the shape of worship, Holy Communion, prayer, and the question of why the natural world seems so cruel.

Anyone is welcome to join us at any time. We meet in May on Friday 27 and June on Thursday 23.

Veronica Faulks

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St Mary's

A small party from St Mary's went to Egypt in April to visit our Mission Partners, the Ayoks. Joseph Ayok is a Sudanese Anglican priest who is working with Sudanese refugees in Alexandria. Few of the refugees have any legal status in Egypt but are remarkable for their spirit and cheerfulness, as well as their ambition and vision. While we were there we took part in their long, but unforgettable Easter service, during which I was asked to deliver an impromptu Easter sermon.

The party then moved on to Cairo where amidst the usual activities we visited the church and school dedicated to the memory of Christabel Gairdner's grandfather, Canon Temple Gairdner, who served in Egypt in the early 20th century. Christabel was with us on the trip.

The Ayoks will be spending their sabbatical in Barnes from June 23rd. While they will have commitments to other link churches they aim to become very much a part of St Mary's and the team. They will be living in Boileau Road. If anyone has anything they can offer to furnish the house (from bed and linen to glasses and cutlery) then please contact Phil Bladen, email: pbladen@dial.pipex.com or tel 8748 0277.

Ross Collins

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St Michael's Church

In March a group of us had dinner in the House of Lords. This was a fund-raising event for our new community centre. Our visit began with a tour around the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Our Easter celebrations began at 6.30am with the lighting of the new fire outside St Michael's church. This is an ancient custom. The new fire is used to light the Easter candle which is then carried into the darkened church, with the words, "The light of Christ" to which everyone replies, "Thanks be to God." It is a moment of triumph, celebrating Christ conquering the darkness of death. This was followed by a champagne breakfast in the hall, a fitting way to celebrate the Resurrection.

On May 14th in Kitson Hall there will be our annual Jazz Dance. This is a tremendously enjoyable evening with excellent food followed by an auction. If you haven't shared in this event before let me strongly recommend it. Book early as the tickets sell like hot cakes.

We will also be going to Walsingham on the 12-15th July for our annual pilgrimage. This is always a time of refreshment and renewal. If you would like to share in this experience, just phone St Michael's office and we can give you the details.

Paul Holland

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St Osmundl's Church

Pope John Paul died at the end of Easter Week. It had been a sad time, those final days, measured against his energy during the twenty-six years as Bishop of Rome. He had made over 100 pastoral visits to 130 countries. He had also written many encyclical letters, together with doctrinal and devotional works.

In 1982 there was the 'whistle stop' tour in this country. He left Gatwick Airport for mass at Westminster Cathedral. He visited the Queen. He also went to Coventry, Glasgow, Liverpool, Cardiff and Canterbury Cathedral, where he prayed with Archbishop Runcie, as well as London, all in the space of less than a week; and administering the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, First Holy Communion and Holy Orders as he went.

The nearest he came to us in Barnes was Roehampton, where he met sisters from religious orders in the grounds of Digby Stuart College. At our Cathedral of St George, Southwark, he administered the Sacrament of the Sick and the following day celebrated mass in Wembley Stadium.

Pope John Paul II's was a pontificate for which to be truly thankful to God. We pray for the continued guidance of the Holy spirit for the future.

Father Anthony Logan

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